As UCAR prepared to hire a new president this summer, several other key leadership positions were filled. For more on each appointee, follow the links from their names to related Web sites.

James Hurrell succeeds Greg Holland as head of the NCAR Earth System Laboratory (NESL). Hurrell co-chairs the World Climate Research Programme Project on Climate Variability and Predictability. His own research focuses on regional climate change, global warming, atmospheric patterns such as the North Atlantic Oscillation, and climate modeling.

Marika Holland is the new chief scientist of the Community Earth System Model (CESM), succeeding Hurrell. Holland’s research
interests are focused on the role of sea ice in the climate system; she has served since 2003 as co-chair of the CESM 
Polar Climate Working Group.

Andy Tasker (pictured below) is the new director of the GLOBE Program, whose headquarters is based in UCAR/UCP, succeeding Edward Geary. Tasker has coordinated GLOBE efforts in the United Kingdom since 1997 and served as Europe and Eurasia representative for the GLOBE International Advisory Committee from 2008 to 2010.

Raj Pandya replaces the retiring Susan Foster as director of UCAR Education and Outreach. Pandya’s UCAR experience includes a postdoctoral appointment with NCAR’s Advanced Study Program (1996–98) and a joint UCP position with Unidata and the Digital Library for Earth System Education. Since 2004 he has led the SOARS program (Significant Opportunities for Atmospheric Research and Science).

Matt Hirschland takes the helm of UCAR Communications from retiring director Lucy Warner. Hirschland comes from the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he oversaw internal and external communications and media relations. Prior to McKinsey, he worked at the nonprofit firm Business for Social Responsibility as director of research and communications.

Andy Tasker, the new director of the GLOBE Program. 

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